Had a fantastic Dressage lesson with Elsie this morning, I'm over the moon with her and a little bit chuffed with my own riding (for once!!)
Last weeks lesson was a bit of a fail on my part, I was far too 'active' with my left hand as I was trying to compensate for Elsie being so on the forehand, forgetting how sensitive she is in the mouth which resulted in a very tense speedy pony and a very tense me!!
For some reason I just could not keep that left rein still (despite my poor instructor shouting it at me what felt like every 2 seconds!)
The left rein has also been giving me some trouble lately, i know most horses are better, more supple, on one rein compared to the other but the difference in Elsie's 2 reins is massive, on the right rein she feels light, supple, forward and free through the back, on the left she resembles a brick wall!
Felt a little disheartened after that session, not Elsie's fault though, she is so incredibly forgiving and honest!
After beating myself up over it for a week, I went into this mornings lesson in a different state of mind and tried to relax.
And wow.
Managed to keep my left rein completely still and I stayed really relaxed, Elsie definitely noticed and produced some of THE nicest trot work I have ever felt from her, ON THE LEFT REIN!!
My instructor had us practise collected trot, not usually Elsies favourite (shes always looking to go longer, faster, extended) but today she complied beautifully, the power that pony has in her back end baffles me!!
We found the key to get Elsie working properly and engaging her brain (she tends to drift off and find things to spook at/stare at/ignore me at when shes bored) is to do lots and lots of different things constantly, we did lines of 8 poles today at different lengths, tonnes of transitions, collecting and lengthening the stride, couldn't really fault Elsie, you could tell she really enjoyed it, she does love showing off.
As always at the end of a dressage lesson with Elsie we pop her into canter and see what we are working with, we find it best to leave until the end as she tends to get really strong, wound up and on the forehand after a canter. Elsie finds canter really difficult, it isn't a 'natural' pace for her (being a gypsy trotter) she tends to find pacing in a 4 time beat much easier but at times she can produce a really nice rhythmic 3 time beat for a few strides or occasionally even for extended periods of time
(depending on what mind-set
she is in) it'll be hard work and I know it wont happen over night but Im certain one day we will establish and maintain a 3 time beat canter, just a matter of building up her confidence.
My main fault in the canter is asking for too much inside bend which makes Elsie fall through the shoulder and go disunited.
Today we worked on having a little bit of outside bend to encourage Elsie to step through with her hind legs a little more, a little easier said than done!
Elsie is so used to me being there to support her with the inside hand she now hangs off it and threatens to run through the fence instead of turning a corner or turning on a circle, so it's my job to try and sit still and continue half halting with the outside bend and ignore Elsies attempt at trapping me into using that inside rein, at one point today I managed to keep her straight/slightly bent to the outside for a whole 20m circle (big accomplishment!!) I was so chuffed with myself!
Elsie was absolutely shattered after that lesson but very content, she loves to work and I was happy as Larry!
My instructor is going to have a little sit on Elsie next week so she can feel what Im working with as she hasn't ridden Elsie before andIi think it would be beneficial for her to know all Elsies quirks and the right buttons to press etc.
Then my instructor is going to treat Elsie to a sports massage too.
I also had an amazing offer from my instructor to go to her yard and ride her 18hh dressage horse, obviously I said Yes!! (Will DEFINITELY have to photograph that!)
Super happy with Elsie today, i think i might start taking a few photos each lesson so I have something to look back on and analyse and look out for improvement etc as I feel that can be quite motivating!
Wore my gorgeous Ariat sunstopper shirt today (in the rain, thank you Britain!) I definitely think I rode better today, my position felt better overall, think it does help when you wear something you are comfortable in!!
Thank you for reading.
India and Elsie May x
